The Vermont Technology Alliance submitted a letter summarizing observations and recommendations to improve opportunities for Vermont firms to secure IT contracts with the State of Vermont to Governor Phil Scott; Michael Schirling, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development; John Quinn, secretary of the Agency of Digital Services and Chief Information Officer; and Christopher Cole, commissioner of the Department of Buildings and General Services. The letter lists eight ways to improve the State of Vermont IT procurement process, and is signed by 35 vtTA members. You can read the letter here.

We look forward to seeing vtTA members, friends and many new faces for our annual Sunset Dinner Cruise on August 24. It's a traditional event for socializing, networking and marking the success and progress of the vtTA and Vermont's tech sector. The cruise is made possible by presenting sponsor FirstLight Fiber and by vtTA sponsors PCC and Dealer.com.

Looking ahead, in September the Vermont Technology Alliance and EMBOLDIA are partnering to present a discussion with Dougan Sherwood, managing director of the Cambridge Innovation Center on the growth and development of entrepreneurial communities, moderated by business and technology writer Adam Bluestein.

We're also working with some great tech-based businesses in Winooski to host a "tech crawl" event as part of Innovation Week this fall. We hope it will be a fun way to discover some of the variety of tech-based businesses and jobs in Winooski, particularly those that have made their home in the historic mill buildings - a textiles to tech success story.

And following that is the annual Tech Jam event, Oct. 20 and 21, which includes our presentation of the annual Tech Jam awards. Details to come, but start thinking of nominees for tech innovation, ambassador, newcomer and startup awards..

We hope you can make it to these and other events and thank you for keeping connected with the Vermont Technology Alliance.

Jeff Couture

Executive Director, Vermont Technology Alliance

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Upcoming Events

Vermont Technology Alliance's Annual Sunset Dinner Cruise

[August 24, 2017 - Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington]

Set sail with the Vermont Technology Alliance and friends aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen for our annual sunset dinner cruise. Enjoy spirits and a plated dinner amid the spectacular setting of Lake Champlain. Come join us for an evening of food, fun and conversation.

This summit will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders who are accelerating economic development by solving the challenges presented by climate change. The summit will feature spark speeches, solution pitches, a business and policy leader fishbowl, sessions with industry leaders, and innovation tours.

The Power of Entrepreneurial Communities & Engaging with Generation Y and Millennials

(September 14, 2017 - Manchester)

EMBOLDIA presents its first event outside of Chittenden County, featuring Issa Sawabini, owner of Fuse, and Michael Jager, founder and chief creative officer at Solidarity of Unbridled Labour, for a discussion on "The Power of Entrepreneurial Communities and Being Engaged with Generation Y and Millennials," moderated by Joy Proft, owner of JOY-all things underthings.

Vermont Code Camp is a full-day event that brings together technology community members, students and professionals from around Vermont and beyond. Sessions are on a variety of software topics including programming, databases, web development, and business.

Bring your laptop, enjoy Bristol Bakery snacks, and get to work with others in the Hinesburg area interested in co-working at this pop-up event in the Osborne Parish House, adjacent to United Church of Hinesburg on Route 116.

The Vermont Technology Alliance and EMBOLDIA are partnering to present a discussion with Dougan Sherwood, managing director of the Cambridge Innovation Center on the growth and development of entrepreneurial communities, moderated by business and technology writer Adam Bluestein.

Step Ahead Raises Over $7 million to Bring Groundbreaking Water Technology to Consumers

(August 18, 2017 - Source: Vermont Business Magazine/press release)

Step Ahead Innovations, Inc, creators of the MindStream aquarium water monitoring system, has announced that it has completed a recent $1.5 million capital round, which moves the firm toward bringing its innovative water monitoring technology to market. This latest round brings the total amount raised by the Burlington company in seven rounds of funding to over $7 million, a substantial amount for a Vermont technology start-up.

WonderArts Vermont received a $58,947 Rural Business Development Grant to support the purchasing of equipment for a Creative Incubator Space, in the Northeast Kingdom. The project twill make high-tech equipment and classes available in graphic design, web development, business planning, computer software, and marketing.

Vermont ranked number 9 in a list of states for families to live richer lives, compiled by personal finance website GOBankingRates. New Hampshire ranks as the Number 1 state, followed by Wyoming and Virginia. New Mexico was listed as the worst, followed by Louisiana, and California. Vermont ranked high for education, median household income and safety, which were offset by cost of living.

Swanton manufacturer Vermont Precision Tools and Vermont HITEC announced a fifth education and apprenticeship program that will bring machine operator jobs to Vermont over the next several months. The program provides free education and one year of on-site mentoring through an apprenticeship at the VPT Swanton, Vermont location.

Comcast reports that 270 more low-income homes in Burlington and South Burlington signed up for Internet Essentials, the nation's largest high-speed internet adoption program. Comcast increased the program's Internet speeds and added free access to 18 million Xfinity WiFi hotspots, helping low-income families stay connected in and out of their homes for possibly the first time.

The fourth annual FreshTracks Road Pitch was held July 31 through August 4. The "business bikers" listened to a total of 44 presentations in 10 Vermont towns. The 10 winners have been named and will now gear up for the statewide pitch-off October 19 at Champlain College.

The Public Service Department will give more than a half-million dollars to three companies to upgrade internet speeds in rural areas of Vermont. The department announced the $547,500 in grants to Comcast, Consolidated Communications (formerly FairPoint) and ECFiber to upgrade speeds at 307 homes and businesses. The grants are part of the Connectivity Initiative, a program the Legislature started in 2015 to reduce the number of Vermonters without high-speed internet.

Vermont's top political leaders and the head of GlobalFoundries praised the contribution of the company and IBM during a celebration in August, marking 60 years of making semiconductor chips in Vermont. Speakers, including GlobalFoundries CEO Sanjay Jha, said Essex Junction remained an important manufacturing site because of the "perseverance" of the employees through changes that have occurred over those six decades.

The idea of growing the tech industry and developing a Vermont spin on Silicon Valley has a lot of appeal. But the state faces big challenges in terms of attracting and keeping talent and companies. Vermont Public Radio checks in on the tech industry here in Vermont: from the unique circumstances around working remotely to how to help local startups take their next steps.

Entrepreneurs and remote workers gathered for a pop-up co-working space in the Osborne Parish House at the United Church of Hinesburg last month. Wayne Maceyka first got the idea to establish a co-working space in Hinesburg last year, and after a few false starts, he thinks he has found the right place at the Osborne house.

Since its inception in 1992, CSL in Burlington has provided advanced software solutions that enable its customers' sales performance management strategies. CSL is a global solutions provider, operating on three continents and is focused on the Pharmaceutical/Biotech, Financial Services and Animal Health industries. Its primary goal is to enhance their client's success through its domain expertise and customized software solutions in areas such as employee coaching, incentives management, key performance indicator reporting and analysis of process quality and feedback.

World-class companies come to CSL because they need solutions that are easy to use, add value quickly, and can be implemented swiftly without IT challenges. Many Fortune 500 companies rely on CSL for their mission-critical ICM, SPM, and Coaching solutions. CSL solutions are an essential part of their customer service and retention plans, and their goals for measuring and rewarding their employees.

The Vermont Technology Alliance welcomes all businesses and individuals who make up Vermont's diverse, tech-based economy to join our non-profit business association. Members support and benefit from vtTA's advocacy, programs, events, communications, and services, including job postings in our Career Center, and networking and business opportunities.

The Vermont Department of Labor, Workforce Development Division, is hosting a
Community and Military Veteran's Job Fair on Monday, September 11 from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Conference Center on Williston Road, So. Burlington.
There is no cost for employers or job seekers to attend. This event will be open to the general public and will take the place of the Annual Veteran's Job Fair that we normally hold in conjunction with Veteran's Day.

The Vermont Technology Alliance, in collaboration with the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), offers an online business networking and opportunity exchange service for technology companies in Vermont: The COREX Opportunities B2B networking platform - vta.corexb2b.com.

COREX Opportunities promotes contact between Vermont and Quebec companies through targeted networking based on their industry sector and their individual profiles and needs. Companies can also use this tool to find new customers, suppliers or potential partners, post requests for proposals or other business opportunities, or ask questions.

Vermont Technology Alliance member companies are hiring, and when you visit the Career Center on the Vermont Technology Alliance website you can browse and search for these job openings. The Career Center features about 200 tech and non-tech jobs with Vermont Technology Alliance member businesses. Jobs are listed in the Career Center at no charge as a vtTA business member benefit.